About the Book

Some of the most far-reaching and innovative parliamentary reform is occurring in Africa. While these reforms are not yet widespread across the continent, parliaments in some African countries are asserting their independence as policymakers, as overseers of government and as the guardian of citizens’ rights and needs.

This book presents recent reforms in selected African parliaments – Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Benin, Zambia, Ethiopia, Liberia and Nigeria. It also presents cross-cutting innovations by African parliaments – in fighting corruption, in providing development to constituents and in combatting climate change. Many of the chapters are authored by African MPs themselves, making this a book ‘by MPs for MPs’, as well as being of interest to students and scholars of African Politics, and to those international institutions that support parliamentary development.

African Parliamentary Reform is a joint initiative by the World Bank Institute, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Parliamentary Centre (Africa).

About the Editors

Rick Stapenhurst is a parliamentary consultant/advisor to the World Bank Institute, USA. His most recent publications include Parliaments as Peacebuilders: The Role of Parliaments in Conflict Affected Countries. Rasheed Draman is the Director of the Parliamentary Centre’s program in Africa. His reports on African political developments include ‘Poverty Reduction Strategy Process and Parliaments in Africa’. Andrew Imlach is the Director of Communications and Research at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretariat in London. Since 1983, he has been the Editor of The Parliamentarian, the Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures. Alexander Hamilton is a consultant at the World Bank Institute. USA, and is completing a PhD. in political economy at the University of Oxford. Cindy Kroon currently works at the World Bank Institute specializing on the engagement of parliaments in the extractive industries sector. She previously worked at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Central Bank.